Torpedo-launching apparatus.



No. 708,03l. v Patented Sept. 2, I902.

I S. J. J. DBZEWIECKI. TORPEDO LAUNGHlNG APPARATUS.

Application filed Jan. 2, 1902.1 7

4 SheetsShee-t I.

(No Model.)

L W M v H m a .H w m. A M r P 2 m: Nonms PETERS 00., PHOTO-LITHQ. wnsumcrou, u. c.

.No. 708,03l.

s. J." J. DRZEWIECKI. TUBPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

A 1icuion mm mm. 2, 1902.

" Patented Sept. 2,1902.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 708,031. Pate'nted Sept. 2, I902.

s. .|.'1 J. DRZEWEC'KI. TO'RPEDOLAUNGHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1902.)

mi Model.) 4 QheatS-Siheet 4.

THE uunms PETERS 00.. womumo. \VASHXNGTON. n. c.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPIIAN JOHN JOSEPH DRZEWIECKI, OF PARlS,'FRANO E.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHI NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,031, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed January 2, 1902. Serial No. 88 .l47- (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHAN JOHN Josnrn DRZEWIEOKI, civil engineer, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and at present residing at 5 Villa Damont, Rue des Bauches, Paris, in the French Republic, have invented a certain new and useful Torpedo-Launching Appara tus, of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description, and for which I have applied for Letters Patent in France October 12, 1901, (not issued;) Great Britain November 18, 1901, No. 23,269; Italy October 18, 1901; Spain October 24, 1901; Germany October 31, 1901; Hungary November 20, 1901; Denmark December 4, 1901. a

This invention relates to a submarine apparatus for launching torpedoes and which is In the following description I refer to the.

annexed drawings, upon, which Figure 1 shows in front elevation thecomplete system forming the launching appara-- tus and the anchoringapparatus'fitted to an ordinary ship. Fig. 1 isa corresponding plan I view, but consideredat the moment the torparatus.

pedo is launched. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in plan. Fig. 4 is another detail View, but on a larger scale; Fig. 5 is a front part elevation, on an enlarged scale, relative to the launching apparatus. Fig. 6 is a corresponding end view. Fig. 7 is a view partly in plan and with certain of the parts shown in section. FigsTS, 9, 10, '11, and 12 are detail views relating to the anchoring apparatus.

' I will first describe the actual launching ap- It consists of three sets of devices, which are 'the'frame or cradle in which the torpedo, is placed, the mechanism for expelling the same, and the mechanism for unlatching and for discharging.

cylinder 9..

The cradle intended to hold the torpedo consists of a" longitudinal frame 100, shaped to the exterior contour of thetopedo, regarded in its diametrical plane. The two sides of this frameare connected by four transverse half collarsor hoops the convexity of which is turned from the side of the boat and the openingof which is outward. Two of these half-collars at a slight distance one from the other, at 1 1 and 2 2, are at the rear end of the frame toward the tail of the torpedo, and the two other half-hoops are provided, at 3 3 and 4 at, at-those places which correspond with r the ends of the compressed-air reservoir, (supposing a torpedo of the Well-known pattern is employed which is propelled by a compressedair motor.) These last two half-hoops are furnished interiorly with small shoes, against which the torpedo rests when in position. The four half-collars aforesaid are connected longitudinally by two tubes 5 5, parallel with the tubes-of the frame. The whole forms arigid and'light cradle in which the torpedo may be located and which may be easily lowered and raised upon the side ofthe boat, as will be presently explained. For submarine and submersible boats this cradle is merely fixed to the hull of the boatu pon the deck, for example. The torpedo is introduced into this cradle laterally from the exterior side of the boat in such a manner. that its ends corresponding with the air-reservoir bear against the small supporting-shoes of the half-hoops3 3'and 4 4.- 85. The torpedo is also maintained by two flexible bands 6 6, 'made of steel strips, jointed at o to the under-portion of the half-hoops and fitting at 7 at their upper ends into forks upon the upper part of the half-hoops by 0 means of two bolts 8 8, mounted in bayonet fashion upon a common rod 8 parallel to the longitudinal tube of the frame, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. This rod 8* passes through a small cylinder 9, and a portion within this is ofen- 5 larged diameter 10, forming a piston. Two pipes lland 12 are joined laterally to the The one 11 serves to admit compressed air, which acts on the piston 10, and this displaces the rod 8,"\'vith the elfect of manipulating the aforesaid bolts 8 8. The other pipe 12 affords communication between the'cylinder 9 and a tube of larger diameter 13, serving as a cylinder for a piston 1a.

This

cylinder 13 is jointed toward its base to a pivot fixed to the upper part of the front halfhoop. The rod 3 is brought back to' its position of rest (which is that of Fig. 4) by a spring 8 The mechanism for expelling the torpedo is formed as follows: The half-hoop 3 3 carries exteriorly two lugs, in which is journaled the axis of a lever 16, termed the expelling-lever. This device may be made of metal plate and hinges or may consist of a conical tube furnished interiorly with wood. It is provided at its end with a shoe-piece 16, which is shaped according to the shell of the torpedo at the place of its air-reservoir, so as to bear properly against the same. Upon the axis 15 is keyed an arm 17, jointed to the end of the piston 14. This set of parts forms the apparatus by means of which the torpedo is expelled or swung out sidewise at the command to fire;

The unlatching and firing mechanism is composed as follows: It consists, essentially, of a frame 18, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, capable of pivoting about a shaft 18, which is vertical or slightly inclined to the vertical and placed at the end of the frame or cradle at 1 1. The frame 18 may have the shape shown on the drawing, Fig. 5, and which is similar to that of a figure 3, so as to facilitate the passage of the tail of the torpedo above and below its horizontal axis of oscillation in case of'the boat rolling, because then the torpedo as soon as it has issued from its cradle is subjected to a pitching motion by reason of the tendency of its tail toward the upper part of this arm during the rolling of the boat itself. In the frame 18 a horizontally-pivoted part :20 pivots about a horizontal shaft 19, in which horizontally-pivoted part is arranged a T- lieaded piece :31, which is acted upon by a powerful coiled spring 22, tending to force it backward. The T-piece 21 is mounted in a sleeve 20*, screwed into the horizontallypivoted part 20. This sleeve 20 ends in a collar or flange 46, which bears against the end of the tubular axial shaft of the torpedo. The stem of the T-piece 21 enters to a slight extent into this shaft. The horizontally-pivoted part 20 comprises a lower extension 23, to the end of which is jointed a lever 24, termed a lowering-lever. This lever is of curved shape, and it engages at its central part in a slot formed in the head of the T-piece. This lever 24 serves to bring back the T-piece into its forward position, known as the closed position. A roller is provided. in the head 25 of the T- piece in order to facilitate the movement of the lever. It has been seen above that the spring 22 tends to force the T-piece 21 rearward. The lever 24 is fitted at its upper end with an eye, into which enters a bolt, consisting of a pointer 26, sliding in a socket which forms part of the boss 27 of the upper part 28 of the horizontally-pivoted part 20. The pointer-bolt 26 is jointed to the end of a lever The lever 29 is jointed to a small link 29",

pivoted at a fixed point. The aforesaid ring 31 can draw along the fork 30 by means of two pivot-screws 30. This ring 31 is also solid with a second ring 32, capable of being moved by the fork of a lever 33, keyed upon a shaft 34. Upon this shaft is also keyed a second lever 35, termed the delivery-lever, the end of which bears upon the internal face of the flange of a sector keyed upon the axis upon which the frame 18 is pivoted. The two rings 31 and 32 are acted on to move toward the central horizontally-pivoted part 20 by a spring 36, which tends to push them in such a manner as to bring back toward the interior the lower part of the unlatching-lever 29 and to disengage the pointer-bolt 26 of the end of the lowering-lever 24. Into the two extremities of the horizontal journals 19 of the horizontally-pivoted part 20 there enter from the exterior of the frame two pivots 37, which are made integral with the journals 19 by means of strong transverse pins. The heads of these pivots 37 end outside the frame 18 in bosses 38, to which are jointed parts 39, termed claws or clasps. These are fitted at their ends with studs 40, which can enter corresponding openings formed in a thick part of the horizontal fin of the tail of the torpedo. One of the claws (illustrated upon Fig. 7) is intended for torpedoes in which the screw-propellers are rearward of the frame of the tail. The other claw is designed for torpedoes in which the screw-propellers are in the frame and in front of the horizontal rudder. The claws 39 are fitted with another shorter arm 41, to the end of which is jointed the link 42, of which the other end is pivoted to the head 25 of the T-piece 21. By this arrangement when the T-piece moves toward the rear the two links 42 draw along, by means of the arms 41, the two claws 39, which open out and are disengaged from the torpedo. At the upper portion of the lowering-lever 24 is an eyelet, to which is attached a wire 44, of which the other extremity is fixed to a ring passed into the starting-lever for the motor of the torpedo,(air-admitting lever in the case of torpedoes driven by compressed air.) This wire is calculated in such a manner that its resistance is greater than the effort required to bring back this lever; but when the lever has been brought back, and when, consequently, the end of the wire is rendered immovable, this wire breaks, when the lever 24 is further brought back by the action of the spring 2 Such is the mechanism which serves actually to launch the torpedo.

The working is as follows: The torpedo being introduced into the cradle, it ismaintained there by the two flexible straps 6 6, which are held in the closed position by means 'too IIO

of the common bolt 8. v Bymeans of ascrewkey-or othersuitable tool: the lever 24 is.

brought again toward the front and thrusting upon the head 25 of the T-piece 21 the spring 22 is compressed and the T-piece 21 enters into the tail of the torpedo. ment the head 25 of the T-piece causes the links 42 to move, which bring the clasps'39 into the closed position. When the studs 40 of the clasps have entered into theholes pro-.-

videdtherefor in the tail of the torpedo, the

upper end of the lever 24 is placed, exactly in the boss 27 of the upper part 28 of the cen-;

tral aperture. In order torender the lever 24 immovable in this position, the unlatch-. ing-lever 29 is acted upon, which pushes the pointer-bolt 26 inthe conical opening in the, end of the said lever 24., To lock ,the unlatching-lever 29 in its turn in this position, the sector is turned so that the end of the: delivery-lever 35 isengaged by the interior of the flange of this sector. In this manner the lever 33 maintains, bymeans of the ring 32, the ring 31 in the positioncorresponding with that of the leverr29 in,the closed post tion. threaded sleeve is rotated, so that it bears against theend of the hollow shaft 69 ot' the torpedo.- discharging or firing. In order to launch, the torpedo in a predetermined direction, the sector 45 is placed,as will be presently explained, in such a position that the diameter limiting the semicircle of this sector occupies a suite able position that at the moment the torpedo has turned around the vertical pivot of the frame18 and is inthe'firingdirection the extremity of the lever 35 leaves the flange of the sector 45 and. escapes exteriorly- The sector 45 being then placed in this position,- the torpedo is pushed back exteriorly out of.

its cradle by means of the expelling-lever 16,

l as followsz A t the order to fire a suitable from the buckles 7 7 of theflexible straps 6 6,,

which falling down allow the torpedo a free passage to pass out sidewise into thespace'so opened outwardly. Vhen the piston 10 thus moved by the compressed air has reached the end, of its stroke, it uncovers the pipe 12," by

which the compressed air is then admitted into the cylinder 13 anddrives the piston 14 toward the exterior. This piston 14, by the intermediary of the arm 17, causes the lever 16 topivot aroundits axis 15, and this, by means of the shoe 16 bearing against the tor-- "pedo, swings this latter sidewise out of the cradle. The torpedo pivots integrally with, the frame 18 around-thevertical axis of the same, owing to the resistance of the water,-

By this move This having been efiected, the screw- The apparatus is then'ready for while the boat advances, and it swings toward the rear, describing an arc A-tthe moment the torpedo is in the ,firing position-the end,-

of thedelivery-lever35,sliding upon the flan ge position corresponding with the determined outwardly under the action of'thespring 36,-

along the unlatching-lever ,29, which disengagesthepointer-bolt 26 from the end of the. lowering-lever 24. s This latter by the action of the powerful, spring '22 is .brought back rearwardly, while the T-piece2 1' disen gages itself'from the hollow shaft of the torpedo and while the head 25 ofthis T-piece draws by the cranks 42 the arms 41 0f the clasps 39,

which latter each swing around through the angle 3]., Their ends 46 are freedfrom the apertures formed in the tail of the torpedo,

which is then completely free and. adjusted or set tothe desired direction. The lever 24 in its movement pulls upon the wire 44, which actuates the lever for starting the motor or engine of the torpedo, (lever for admitting the compressed air,) and as soon as this latter has been lowered the wire,44 breaks under of the sector 45, which has been fixed-inthe firing angle, reaches at this moment the end of the flange, it disengagesitself and escapes pushing the ringsBl and 32; These :draw r the pull of the spring 22 and the torpedo.-

starts forward under the action of propellers. Such is the working of, the mechanism serv-. ing for theactual launching of the torpedo.

For submarine, submersible, or-water-coveredboats andin general for those whichcan when desired plunge beneath the surface, the

mechanism above describedds sufficient in;

itself, since theapparatus is fixed upon the deck or upon the hulhitself of the boat and. becomes submarine when the boat plunges; but for ordinary'boats it is necessary to be} able to immerse the apparatus at a given mo 'ment. .This is effected, by the apparatus termed the anchoring, apparatus, which I :will now describe, Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9,10, 11,12.

The front half-hoop 4 4 and the half-collars leys 51 51, the upper one jointed'to the axis of the upper tube 5 and thelower one jointed to a pin 47;to which are attached the ends of two'legs 47, which are also joined to thetwo -1 1 2 2 are provided with two runners ortrolf collars. These trolleys-51 travel upon 'fourrollers 48, mounted in pairs; upon parallel;

axes and rollingflat upon the base ofthe flat rail or guideway 49,'fixedto'and passing up the side of the boat; Upon this guideway 49; (see Fig. 11) are fixed twoZ-shapedrails50 50, between which'passesthe contracted portion of the previouslymentioned trolleys; These are f u rnished at such narrowed portion with two rollers 48*, of which the axes'a're perpendicular to the base of the guide, so that these rollers travel upon and bear against the interior flange of one of-the 'rails'50, accorde ing-to the. direction ofpressure, because there,

is only about two millimeters difference between the diameter of the rollers =and'theslot or trough between the twovrails 50: The trolley thus bears against the rails entirely through its rollers, and since it is jointed at 47 it is able to follow the rail or guideway whatever be the profile of this, the profile depending, of course, upon the shape of the hull of the boat.

In order that the thrust should not be ex erted upon the rollers when the apparatus is in its anchored position, the trolleys are provided at the part above the slot formed by the rails 50 with enlarged dovetail portions 51, which locate themselves between two guides 52, provided at only those places where the trolleys are when the torpedo is in the aiming position. The thrust is thus exerted entirely upon these slides or guides 52 and not upon the rollers. The upper trolley of each collar is fixed to the end of a calibrated chain passing around a graduated or marked pulley 53. The two pulleys 53 are keyed upon a common shaft 54, upon which are also keyed two drums of the same original diameter as the pulleys 53. Upon these drums 60 are wound in the contrary direction to the winding of the chains 55 two flexible metallic cables 56, each of which passes over a guide-pulley 57, descends the side of the ship, bearing against small rollers or pulleys suitably arranged, passes over a return-pulley 58, arranged flat against the side of the ship, under the ends of the guideways t9, and is attached to the lower trolley of each half-collar. In the center part of the shaft 54 is keyed a worm-wheel driven by a worm 59, which can be suitably actuated by hand-power or by an electric motor. \Vhen by means of the worm 59 and worm-wheel the shaft 54 is rotated in one direction, the chains 55 slacken and the return-cables 56, winding around the drums 60, induce the cradle carrying the torpedo to descend parallel to itself to its firing position. If the shaft 54 be rotated in the opposite direction, the cables 56 become slack, and the chains 55, drawn by the two pulleys 53, cause the cradle to reascend up to the framework which is fixed upon the deck. In this position the apparatus is recharged with a new torpedo.

As has been stated above, the direction of aim depends upon the position of the sector 45. I may before submerging the apparatus fix its position to an angle determined relatively to the diametrical plane of the boat and then tack or alter position with the boat. Such is the case for submarines; but for ordinary boats it is more convenient to aim or sight the torpedo visibly, and in that case the following sighting apparatus is employed. This is made as follows: To the shaft which carries the sector 45 is joined, by means ofa universal joint 61, the lower end of a vertical shaft 62, of which the upper part is held in a movable block or hearing 63, which can be lowered upon the deck when the apparatus is taken up. Upon the head of the shaft 62 is keyed a cross-piece 64, Figs. 1 and 1 which by means of two parallel rods Get forms a parallelogram jointed to a similar crosspiece 65, keyed upon the lower part of the' axis of a sighting device 66, mounted upon a movable tripod. The sighter carries an index G7 and a graduated reglet 68, in case a moving object should be aimed at. The index and reglet are furnished with sliders, which are placed one at the division corresponding with the speed of the torpedo and the other at the division corresponding with the estimated speed of the moving target, taking care to place the reglet parallel to the direction of travel of the target. The object is then sighted, the two sliders being alined upon it, and the command to fire is given. When the discharged torpedo passes in the direction of the sighted target, it starts, as has been explained above. When the eradle and the torpedo are upon the deck, the rod of the sighteris lowered along the frame. When the apparatus is lowered into the water, the rod of the sighter is raised, holding it in the air. When the torpedo has reached its firing position, the sighter-rod is placed against the side of the boat in a place for that purpose and the upper block 63 is lowered, in which the upper part of the rod 62 is caused to engage. Upon this is mounted the cross-piece (54, which can be placed in any one direction relatively to the sector 45. The tripod of the sighter is set up, and the apparatus is in position. In order that the gnideways which descend the length of the side should not afford too great a resistance to the water during the travel of the boat, they are masked or shielded by means of surfaces tapered oif to act as fenders and secured to the side.

Having thus described my submarine apparatus for launching torpedoes and having set forth its working, I wish to state that I may make therein various constructional modifications in whole or in part without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. A torpedo-launching apparatus having an unlatching mechanism consisting of a pivoted frame, pivoted claw-arms to engage the torpedo on the outside, a threaded tubular sleeve to engage the central to be of the torpedo and mechanism for releasing said clawarms, substantially as described.

2. A torpedo-launching apparatus having an unlatching mechanism, comprising pivoted claw-arms having extensions 41, a spring, levers controlled by the spring and connected with the extensions, a lever 24: to hold the claws in latched position and means for latching and unlatching said lever 24, substantially as described.

3. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, an unlatching mechanism consisting of spring-controlled mechanism to normally hold the torpedo and a lever 24 to hold such mechanism latched, in combination with a pointer-bolt, adapted to secure the lever 24., spring mechanism adapted to withdraw the pointer-bolt IIO 3o ver in position, a lever secured to the pointerand means to hold said spring mechanism in check until the torpedo has reached a certain determined position and then release the spring mechanism, substantially as described.

4. An unlatching meansfortorpedo-launching apparatus, comprising a pivotally-monnted frame, shaped like a figure 3, and a horizontally-pivoted part therein, carrying clawarms adapted to engage the stern of the torpedo, substantially as described.

5. An unlatching means for torpedo-launching apparatus, comprising a pivotally-mounted frame, a pivoted part in the frame, clawarms, a cross-head, links connecting the arms and cross-head, a spring to operate the crosshead, a lever pivoted to thelower part of the pivoted part at one end, and passing across and holding down the cross head, and a pointer-bolt to latch the upper part of the lever in position, as and for the purpose described.

6. An unlatching means for torpedo-launching apparatus, comprising a pivotally-mounted frame, a pivoted part in'the frame, clawarms, a cross-head, links connecting thearms and cross-head, a spring to operate the crosshead, a lever pivoted tothe lower part of'the pivoted part at one end and passing across and holding down the cross head, and a pointer-bolt to latch the upper part ofthe lebolt, fulcrumed to the pivoted part and secured at its other end to a spring-pressed collar, and means for normally holding said spring-pressed collar with its spring compressed and a releasing means, substantially as described.

7. An unlatching means for torpedo-launching apparatus, comprising a pivotally-mounted frame, a pivoted part in the frame, clawarms, a cross-head, links connecting the arms and cross-head, a spring to operate the crosshead, a lever pivoted to the lower part ofthe pivoted part at one end and passing across and holding down the cross-head, a pointer-bolt to latch the upper part of the lever in position, a lever secured to the pointer-bolt and to a spring-pressed collar, a lever secured to the collar adapted to control its position and a delivery-lever to operate the collar-operating lever, a sector adjustable in position, normally holding said delivery-lever in check but adapted upon a sufficient movement of the pivoted frame to release said lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A torpedo-unlatching apparatus, comprising a pivotally-mounted frame, a springcontrolled lever for unlatching the torpedo from the frame, said lever having a wire connected with the torpedo-starting-mechanism of such strength that upon the release of the on the trolley, as and for the purpose latching-lever the wire will be tensionedto throw the torpedo-lever but upon the further movement of the lever the Wire will be broken, substantially as described.

9. A torpedo-launching apparatus, comprisinga cradle, a pivotally-mounted frame at one end thereof, a sleeve carrying a-sector concentric with the upper pivot of the frame, means to rotate the sector independently of the frame, and an unlatohing means carried by the frame and having a delivery-lever adapted to be controlled by the sector to release it when desired, substantially as described.

10. A torpedo-launching apparatus, comprising a cradle, a pivotally-mounted frame at one'end thereof, a sleeve carrying a sector at the upper part of said frame, a pivoted part transversely pivoted in the frame and having upwardly and downwardly depending arms, a spring-controlled cross-head mounted in the pivoted'part, claw-arms and links between them and the cross-head, a slot in the cross-head, a lever passing through the slot and pivoted at its lower end to thedownwardly-depending arm of the pivoted part, its upper end being latched to the upwardlyextending arm of the pivoted part, a pointerarm to latch them, a leverfor the pointerarm, spring means to withdraw the pointerarm, and a delivery-lever to control the said spring means itself controlled by the aforesaid sector, substantially as described.

11. Apparatus for sighting torpedoes, comprising a sector, a shaft to rotate it, a crosspiece 64 to the shaft, a second cross-piece, rods connecting both cross-pieces and a shaft 66 carrying an index and graduated reglet, said shaft being fast to the second cross-head, substantially as described.

12. Apparatus for launching torpedoes, comprising rails securedto the ships side, trolleys mounted on said rails, a cradle mounted on the trolleys, chains secured to the trolleys and mechanism for winding or unwinding saidchains, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. Apparatus for launching torpedoes, comprising a cradle, trolleys on which it is mounted, guideways for the trolleys, projections 52 on certain determined points of the guideway and corresponding projections 51* scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHAN JOHN JOSEPH DRZEWIEOKI.

' Witnesses:

GUSTAVE DUMONT, EDWARD P.'MAoLEAN. 

